HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-18-2022 Library & Community Engagement Commission MinutesSaratoga Library & Community Engagement Commission Minutes | October 18, 2022
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MINUTES
SARATOGA LIBRARY &
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
OCTOBER 18, 2022
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Eric Lewis called the meeting to order 5:06 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Eric Lewis, Vice Chair Victoria Zhang, Commissioner Robert Gulino,
Cristina Meiser, Valerie Nygaard
Absent: None
Also Present: Jennifer Weeks, Nichole King, David Guidry, Crystal Bothelio
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ON NON-AGENDIZED ITEMS
None
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Selection of Chair and Vice Chair
Recommended Action:
Select new Chair and Vice Chair to serve October 2022 through September 2023. The
Chair and Vice Chair serve a term of 1 year. Each Commissioner may only serve as Chair
or Vice Chair once during a term on the Commission.
GULINO/MEISER MOVED TO NOMINATE VICTORIA ZHANG AS CHAIR. MOTION PASSED.
AYES: GULINO, LEWIS, MEISER, NYGAARD, ZHANG. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE.
ABSENT: NONE.
LEWIS/GULINO MOVED TO NOMINATE CRISTINA MEISER AS VICE CHAIR. MOTION
PASSED. AYES: GULINO, LEWIS, MEISER, NYGAARD, ZHANG. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN:
NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
2. Library & Community Engagement Commission Minutes
Recommended Action:
Review and approve the minutes from the August 8, 2022 Regular Meeting.
GULINO/ZHANG MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE AUGUST 8, 2022
REGULAR MEETING. MOTION PASSED. AYES: GULINO, LEWIS, MEISER, NYGAARD,
ZHANG. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
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3. Saratoga Teen Advisory Board Report
Recommended Action:
Receive Saratoga Teen Advisory Board report.
No report
4. Santa Clara County Library District Report
Recommended Action:
Receive Santa Clara County Library District report.
County Librarian Jennifer Weeks discussed Distinguished Author events, use of District
libraries as voting centers, and Community Librarian Nichole King’s transfer to the
Campbell Community Library and process for filling the Saratoga position.
5. Saratoga Community Library Report
Recommended Action:
Receive Saratoga Community Library report.
Saratoga Community Librarian Nichole King shared updates on in-person homework
help Monday through Thursday, funds donated by the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries
for outdoor patio improvements, use of the Saratoga Library as a Vote Center, and
Library Hikes program.
Commissioner Valerie Nygaard inquired about data provided in the Community Library
Report and how it compares to other time periods and if there are any specific targets or
goals that the Library or District are aiming towards.
Saratoga Community Librarian Nichole King shared her observations on trends and
Community Librarian Jennifer Weeks discussed the strategic planning process that is
currently underway.
The Commission requested an update on the strategic planning effort at the December
meeting.
6. Friends of the Saratoga Libraries Report
Recommended Action:
Receive Friends of the Saratoga Libraries report.
Friends of the Saratoga Libraries President David Guidry announced that the Friends
were recognized as Volunteer Organization of the Year during the recent State of the City,
50th anniversary celebration activities and related fundraising strategies, increasing
numbers of new members and efforts to recruit new members, the upcoming paperback
sale, a recent gathering of Friends organizations in the region, the addition of a new
Board role called Development, and local business donations.
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7. Library & Community Engagement Commission Chair Report
Recommended Action:
Receive Library & Community Engagement Commission Chair report.
Chair Lewis spoke about his time as Chair, including the recent State of the City event
that the Friends of the Saratoga Libraries were recognized at.
8. City of Saratoga Report
Recommended Action:
Receive City of Saratoga report.
Assistant City Manager Crystal Bothelio updated the Commission on the start of hybrid
meetings.
9. Community News & Trends
Recommended Action:
Share news and trends within the community.
Commissioner Robert Gulino spoke about artificial intelligence technology and the
popularity of wearable devices that measure different health metrics as possible Library
presentation or programing topics.
Commissioner Valerie Nygaard shared that she may be able to assist with speakers on
wearable technology.
10. Celebrating Saratoga’s Diversity Work Plan Item
Recommended Action:
Receive recommendation from subcommittee on implementation of Celebrating
Saratoga’s Diversity by working with Saratoga Library to launch an oral history project
that celebrates the diversity of Saratoga by inviting people who live or work in Saratoga
to record a short video at Saratoga Library about what brought them to Saratoga. The
Commission may make a motion to proceed with the approach as recommended or as
amended by the Commission.
Commissioner Victoria Zhang and Commissioner Cristina Meiser provided an update
from the Celebrating Saratoga’s Diversity subcommittee.
Saratoga Friends of the Saratoga Libraries President David Guidry suggested including
personal videos or photos that compliment the stories shared as part of the oral history
project.
Commissioner Valerie Nygaard suggested a beta or trial of the project with a small group
of participants to understanding project needs and ways to refine the project to scale to
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a larger group. She also suggested that original members of the Friends participate in the
project.
Commissioner Robert Gulino commented on other oral history projects and how they
have been used with advanced technology recently to bring personal stories to life for
viewers.
Chair Eric Lewis noted the importance of editing to make videos more appealing to
viewers. He also suggested some sort of event or activity after the launch of videos, such
as a live interview of video participants.
Commissioner Victoria Zhang agreed that starting small would be helpful in keeping the
project management for the Commission in their first attempt in implanting it. She
proposed starting with a small number of videos that can be showcased on the City
website. The first year can be a trial run to determine if there is interest and if the
program works. If there is interest in the program then it can be expanded in future years.
Commissioner Victoria Zhang also agreed with Chair Eric Lewis’ comments on editing.
Saratoga Community Librarian Nichole King suggested that the Library’s teen volunteers
may be able to do light video editing for the project. She confirmed that the Library has
the capability to take registration and space and equipment for video recording.
NYGAARD/GULINO MOVED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED RECOMMENDATION FROM
SUBCOMMITTEE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF CELEBRATING SARATOGA’S DIVERSITY BY
WORKING WITH SARATOGA LIBRARY TO LAUNCH A BETA TEST OF AN ORAL HISTORY
PROJECT THAT CELEBRATES THE DIVERSITY OF SARATOGA BY INVITING PEOPLE WHO
LIVE OR WORK IN SARATOGA TO RECORD A SHORT VIDEO AT SARATOGA LIBRARY
ABOUT WHAT BROUGHT THEM TO SARATOGA, AND REPORTING BACK ON THE
COMMITTEE’S PROGRESS AT A FUTURE MEETING. MOTION PASSED. AYES: GULINO,
LEWIS, MEISER, NYGAARD, ZHANG. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
11. Good Neighbor Day Work Plan Item Update
Recommended Action:
Receive an update on the Good Neighbor Day work plan effort.
Assistant City Manager Crystal Bothelio provided an overview of the implementation of
Good Neighbor Day at the City level.
12. Parent/Student Collaboration Work Plan Item Update
Recommended Action:
Receive an update on the Parent/Student Collaboration work plan effort.
Commissioner Cristina Meiser provided an update on the Parent/Student Collaboration
work plan item, describing Project Cornerstone and how it is used in schools for social
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emotional learning and how it can be showcased in public libraries to reinforce Project
Cornerstone programming and lessons. She also updated the Commission on a recent
discussion with West Valley College Director of Student Needs Samantha Hernandez
about the rates of student homelessness and resources that can be provided to
community college students as well as opportunities to address housing needs.
Saratoga Community Librarian Nichole King confirmed that the Project Cornerstone
display and copies of book on the prescribed reading list have been ordered.
Commissioner Valerie Nygaard expressed support for the idea to showcase Project
Cornerstone at the Library to echo what is being taught at school and as a resource for
students who are homeschooled.
13. Subcommittee Assignments
Recommended Action:
Consider amending the Library & Community Engagement Commission subcommittee
assignments to include new Commissioner Valerie Nygaard on Commission
subcommittees.
ZHANG/GULINO MOVED TO AMEND THE LIBRARY & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
COMMISSION SUBCOMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS TO INCLUDE COMMISSIONER VALERIE
NYGAARD ON COMMISSION ON THE PARENT/STUDENT COLLABORATION
SUBCOMMITTEE. MOTION PASSED. AYES: GULINO, LEWIS, MEISER, NYGAARD, ZHANG.
NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
14. December Meeting Date
Recommended Action:
Consider whether to reschedule the December Regular Meeting, currently scheduled for
December 12 at 7:00 p.m.
GULINO/NYGAARD MOVED TO RESCHEDULE THE DECEMBER REGULAR MEETING FOR
DECEMBER 5 AT 7:00 P.M. MOTION PASSED. AYES: GULINO, LEWIS, MEISER, NYGAARD,
ZHANG. NOES: NONE. ABSTAIN: NONE. ABSENT: NONE.
SUMMARIZE ACTION ITEMS
• Celebrating Diversity subcommittee will share updates on needed.
• Update on Santa Clara County Library District Strategic Plan at next meeting, if
possible.
AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING
None
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ADJOURNMENT
Chair Eric Lewis adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Minutes respectfully submitted:
Crystal Bothelio, Assistant City Manager
City of Saratoga